Varuna
Lord of Cosmic Order and Infinite Waters. LN Intermediate power of cosmic order, dharma [He/Him]
Pantheon: Vedic
Symbol: A cloud
Realm: Mechanus / The Vigilant Eye
Known Proxies: Ganga and Yamuna (demipowers of rivers); Vasishtha (human sage proxy [he/him] / LN)
Analysis of the Creed of Varuna, penned by Sage (First Degree) Harbin Jolloth
I first encountered the realm of the Vigilant Eye while seeking enlightenment among the Great Gears of Mechanus—it was a place of such perfect symmetry that it was even unusual in the Plane of Law. Varuna, the Vedic Lord of Cosmic Order, Dharma, and the Eternal Sky, resides here, and is one of the few truly approachable deities of the plane. Apparently one of his roles is to preside over the intersection of divine and mortal concerns. Unlike his twin Mitra, who sits among the radiant spires of Mount Celestia as the power of friendship and contracts, Varuna remains intimately connected to the mortal world, tirelessly tending to the subtle bindings between powers, mortals, and the laws that govern existence itself. Â
Varuna appears as a regal, youthful figure, his azure skin shimmering with the brightness of the noonday sky. With four arms gracefully wielding his symbols—a noose to enforce cosmic justice and a golden pitcher filled with the waters of life—he rides upon Makara, his legendary mount. This extraordinary white beast, part crocodile and part elephant, glides effortlessly among the gears of Mechanus, able to swim, walk or fly as required.
While Varuna’s demeanor is calm and compassionate, his gaze is piercing, for he can see into the very dharma of all beings before him, and knows instantly if he is being lied to. Those who approach him somehow feel both welcomed and judged—a reminder that Varuna cares deeply for mortal existence, but only when it remains in harmony with the laws of the cosmos.
Varuna is more than an enforcer of rules; he is the embodiment of rita, the cosmic order that underpins all creation, according to the Vedic pantheon. Where Primus governs Regulus with unfeeling mechanical precision, Varuna brings a divine sense of balance and an ethical purpose. To him, Mechanus is not merely a giant clockwork, but a manifestation of universal dharma, where each gear turns in service to a higher law.
The Fraternity of Order share Varuna’s committment to the exploration of cosmic laws, and the faction counts many of his priests amongst the ranks. Varuna also has a surprising number of followers amongst the formians. While they hold their Scion Queen Mother as the supreme power, Varuna is happy to help the centaur-ants toward a deeper understanding of their place in the universal order outside the Hive.
Indeed, unlike many of the aloof powers of law, Varuna is uniquely invested in the welfare of mortals. He sees the Prime not as a fleeting imperfection but as a vital focus point of the multiverse. This perspective makes him one of the more approachable powers of Mechanus. His priests claim that Varuna listens to mortal petitions with genuine concern, often sending aid through his proxies, such as the sage Vasishtha (human sage proxy [he/him] / LN)—also Varuna’s son—or the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna (both Vedic demipowers of rivers, [she/her] / LN), who attend him. Varuna’s encourages balance not through blind adherence to order but through the harmonious alignment of duty, morality, and necessity.
The Call of the Waters
Recently, Varuna’s focus has begun to drift. For all of eternity so far, he has presided over the boundless sky and the moral fabric of the multiverse, but his attention is increasingly drawn to the oceans and the waters that sustain mortals. He has taken a new interest in the flow of rivers, rainfall, and the vast, life-giving cycles of water. Rumours ripple through Mechanus that he is considering establishing a second domain, an oceanic stronghold within the Inner Planes, perhaps on the Plane of Water or even a custom-made demiplane. His river goddess attendants, Ganga and Yamuna, are frequently seen to journey there, and reports of his presence alongside sea powers like Istishia and Deep Sashelas have grown frequent. Some whisper that he is preparing for a grand reshaping of his portfolio—casting aside the sky and embracing water as his primary domain.
This shift has unsettling implications. If Varuna’s role as arbiter of the sky diminishes, what will become of his duties over cosmic order and mortal contracts with the divine? Some believe his twin Mitra may step into the void, but others question whether Mitra’s focus on fellowship can replace Varuna’s impartial enforcement of dharma. Furthermore, his growing interest in water threatens to disrupt the balance among the elemental powers, who already squabble over dominion within the Inner Planes. A second oceanic realm may lead to alliances or rivalries between Varuna and other powers, such as Istishia, Poseidon, or even Akadi, the Queen of Air.
The Many Faces of Varuna
Adding yet another layer of subtlety is Varuna’s increasing activity outside the Vedic pantheon. Through different names and guises, he has become a power of many spheres, recognised as Kadalon by the Tamil pantheon, Suiten by the Japanese, and even Ahura Mazda, the supreme deity of the Zoroastrians. In these roles, each time his focus shifts slightly, often emphasising rain, water, or justice, but the core essence of Varuna—the adherence to cosmic order and the nurturing of mortal life—remains intact.
This adaptability has made him widely revered, but it also raises concerns. As he spreads his influence across multiple pantheons, how long can he maintain the harmony of his responsibilities? Some scholars within the Fraternity speculate that Varuna’s growing ambitions may stretch him too thin, diluting his power or creating fractures in his divine essence. Others argue that his many faces are part of an elaborate strategy to unite disparate cultures under a shared vision of cosmic law. As a planewalker, I can only marvel at the complexity of this great power, whose actions ripple like waves across the planes, drawing mortals and powers alike into the ever-turning wheel of order he so diligently oversees.
Whatever the future holds for Varuna and his followers, one thing is certain: His attention to the mortal world, his embrace of dharma, and his newfound focus on the infinite waters make him one of the most dynamic and fascinating powers in Mechanus and beyond.
Canonical Sources: On Hallowed Ground [2e] p47,154-155,157,179; Planes of Law [2e] Mechanus p10; Player’s Guide p26; Planescape Campaign Setting [2e] DM’s Guide p61 (all contain only passing mentions of Varuna, I have drawn from real world mythology for this write-up)
Source: Jon Winter-Holt